See section 2.1.1 of the mainstream Korea Archive.
See section 2.1.2 of the mainstream Korea Archive.
See section 2.1.3 of the mainstream Korea Archive.
Types of provision
Special schools
Education laws in Korea provide that one or more special schools for handicapped children should be established in each province or special city. (Provinces and special cities are the administrative regions into which the country is broken down; each has boards of education.) The number of special schools offering elementary (primary level) education (for children aged 6-12 years) and secondary level education (for those aged 12+), has increased steadily during recent years, although public awareness of their importance is still inadequate.5
Many special schools are 'all-through' schools providing education for students of all ages - from kindergarten to high school. Many also provide vocational training. 21
Special classes & mainstream provision
Provision is, however, not exclusive to special schools. Only students with severe special needs are catered for in special schools. Others are enrolled in special classes in normal schools or receive integrated education in normal, mainstream school classes.13,4
Special programmes for gifted children
Some school districts also offer special education programmes for gifted children in subject areas such as science, mathematics, foreign languages, computer science, the arts and athletics. These programmes receive strong governmental support and aim to identify the gifted at an early age with a view to stimulating their creative thinking, motivating their learning and ensuring that they achieve their potential as future leaders in their specific area of expertise.13,4,11 In 1994, approximately 57 out of 174 regional offices of education in Korea organised such special education programmes for the gifted.8
It should be noted, however, that the Koreans themselves do not generally view special education programmes for gifted students as 'special education'. In Korea, special education usually means the education of the mentally retarded, and the visual, hearing and physically handicapped.9
Size of provision
Approximately 2.4 per cent of school age children in Korea are in need of special education. Only about half of these are enrolled in special schools (for children with severe special needs); just less than half of those with special needs are enrolled in special classes in normal mainstream schools; and the remainder receive integrated education in normal school classes.21,4 ,
In 1998, there were 118 institutions for special education across Korea, with a total enrolment of 23,256 students. These institutions included 13 for the blind, 17 for the deaf, 15 for the physically handicapped, 73 for the mentally retarded and three for the emotionally handicapped.9,14 In addition to general education, the schools offer skills development in order to prepare the physically handicapped for productive jobs. The Ministry of Education & Human Resources Development also sponsors job placements and an annual skills competition5.
In early 1999:
There are currently 123 special schools in Korea, with a total enrolment of just over 24,000 severely handicapped children. Just over 26,000 other children are educated in 3,764 special classes in regular schools. 23
In early 2003, the Ministry of Education in Korea announced that, from 2007, all children with special educational needs will receive free education from kindergarten to upper secondary school. As part of this plan, 11 more special schools and 795 special education classes in both special and general/mainstream schools will be created. There are also plans to increase the numbers of special education teachers and teaching assistants.25
Control and funding of provision
The National Institute for Special Education, which opened in 1994, is responsible for research, information development and supply in the field of special education, and also for the training of teachers for those with special needs. Its aim is to improve the quality of special education.10
The Vocational Management Agency for the Disabled supports special schools in providing vocational training for students with special needs. The Agency also helps to place students in vocational training workshops during and on completion of their school education, and provides some funding to schools to set up sheltered workshops. 21